A lot of people wonder why so many Chinese children are maths geniuses and musical prodigies(神童). Amy Chua explains why in her Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. 1. Born in the United States to Chinese immigrant parents, Chua married a man who she met at Harvard University, and when their two daughters were born she was determined that they would be as successful as she was.
Her system had strict rules. Her two daughters were expected to be number one in every subject. Playing with friends and TV was forbidden. Music was compulsory. 2.From a very early age her daughters Sophia and Lulu were outstanding pupils and musical prodigies. Chua chose maths and music for her daughters, but it seems that they could have excelled in anything. “There’s no musical talent in my family”, she says, “it’s just hard work.”
Eventually Chua realized that she was pushing her daughters too hard. 3.After a series of violent arguments, Chua decided to give her daughters a little more freedom, and Lulu immediately gave up violin lessons and took up tennis. Later Sophia was even allowed to go to a rap concert.
Many people have been shocked by the book. Chua spent much of her daughters’ childhood shouting at them and criticizing every mistake they made. 4.Sophia said that she herself chose to accept the system, and after the book was published she wrote an article defending her mother. Lulu says that although she no longer wants to be a violinist, she still loves playing the violin. 5.Sophia is now studying law at Harvard, and Lulu is doing well at high school and winning tennis trophies.
A. “They are a mystery to me.” Chua says.
B. The system seemed at first to be working.
C. In fact, she is glad her mother made her learn.
D. However, the girls do not seem to be upset about their mother.
E. At 13 Sophia played a piano solo at the Carnegie Hall in New York.
F. It is a book which caused controversy among parents when it was published.
G. Lulu had always rebelled the most, and when she was 13 she refused to co-operate at all.
In 1917 Orville Wright predicted that "the aeroplane will help peace in many ways –in particular I think it will have a tendency to make war impossible.” Earlier in 1904, American journalist John Walker declared, “As a peace machine, the value of the aeroplane to the world will be beyond computation.” This wasn’t the first grand promise of technology. In that same year Jules Verne announced, “The submarine(潜艇)may be the cause of bringing battle to a stoppage.”
Alfred Nobel, sincerely believe his dynamite(火药) would be a war obstacle: “My dynamite will sooner lead to peace than a thousand world conventions(公约).” Similarly, when Hiran Maxim, inventor of the machine gun, was asked in 1893, “Will this gun not make war more terrible?” he answered, “No, it will make war impossible.” Gugliemo Mareconi, inventor of the radio, told the world in 1912. “The coming of the wireless time will make war impossible, because it will make war ridiculous.” General James Harbord, chairman of the board of RCA in 1925, believed, “Radio will serve to make the concept of Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men a reality.”
David Nye, a historian of technology, adds to the list of inventions imagined as abolishing war forever and leading to universal peace the hot-air balloon, poison gas, land mines and laser guns.
It is not that all these inventions are without benefits—even benefits toward democracy. Rather, it’s the case that each new technology creates more problems than it solves. “Problems are the answers to solutions,” says Brian Arthur.
Most of the new problems in the world are problems created by previous technology. These problems are nearly invisible to us. Every year 1.2 million people die in automobile accidents. The technological transportation system kills more people than cancer. Global warming, environmental poisons, nuclear terrorism, and species loss, are only a few of the many other serious problems troubling people.
If we embrace(拥抱) technology we need to face its costs.
1.What will new inventions do according to the first two paragraphs?
A. They will increase wars.
B. They will lead to peace.
C. They will serve people.
D. They will break conventions.
2.What does the author list so many inventions?
A. To show people’s creativity.
B. To appreciate their benefits.
C. To contradict the original ideas.
D. To prove grand promises.
3.What does the author hope to tell us about new technology through the text?
A. It will experience many tests.
B. It will bring about huge costs in the world.
C. It provides answers to many problems.
D. It presents more problems than it solves.
Finding your feet in a new town can be hard, especially if you’re covered in fur and don’t speak the language. But for pets new to Marlborough, help is at hand.
Marlborough SPCA and the Railway Café, in Blenheim, have joined forces to help welcome pets and their people to the region with a fortnightly morning tea. They hope the morning teas will get tails and tongues wagging as well as giving advice on how to make the move smoother.
Railway Café owner Leanne Harris came up with the innovative plan as a way to help welcome people to the area. Leanne moved to Marlborough from Auckland two years ago and said she initially struggled to find friends and feel part of the community. “Coming from Auckland I thought people would open their doors and that there would be neighbours calling round with cake. I expected people to come to me and, of course, it wasn’t like that. I did get lonely. “I hope to save newcomers having to wait as long as I did to feel part of it all. I would like to welcome them to the town.”
Free platters of sandwiches, cakes and other goodies will be on offer, for the people, while there will be special handmade yoghurt and banana treats for the dogs. The morning teas will take place in the covered area at the back of the popular café beside the railway station off Grove Rd.
Leanne said she was happy to devote both her time and effort into giving back to the community and felt the venture was a great fit with the SPCA.
“Volunteering is such an amazing thing to do and it changed things for me completely, and I met some amazing people with similar interests.”
SPCA Op Shop manager Karina Greenall, originally from the United Kingdom, said she also wanted to help. “I can give advice on how to resettle pets, the best parks to go to , where the best walks are and where the vet centers are in town.” There will be volunteering opportunities too for people where they can help out and hopefully make friends too.”
1.How will Marlborough SPCA and the Railway Café help new pets?
A. By offering morning teas.
B. By giving advice to them.
C. By communication with them.
D. By providing accommodation to them.
2.What was Leanne’s plan originally intended for?
A. Saving animals.
B. Helping newcomers.
C. Making more friends.
D. Expanding her business.
3.What had Leanne expected when she first came to Marlborough?
A. To be left alone.
B. To struggle for a living.
C. To be invited to dinner.
D. To feel part of the community.
4.What can be learnt about SPCA Op Shop manager Karina Greenall?
A. She often misses the United Kingdom.
B. She takes interest in the Railway Café.
C. She is enthusiastic about resettling pets.
D. She has organized the voluntary events.
Toddler World Nursery was delighted to employ a trainee---twenty-two-old Jonathan Brown—as their first male nursery schoolteacher. He was also the only man who applied for the job, but, insists Margery Bowman, head teacher of Toddler World, by far the best applicant. “Both boys and girls will benefit from the experience of having a male role model in the nursery.” Says mother of two, Margery.
Jonathan has always been interested in childcare. His own mother is a childminder and his father is a teacher. “I’ve always helped Mum with looking after all the children.” he says. “I’m used to changing nappies, feeding babies, reading stories and playing with Lego.”
But Jonathan is a rare male in a female world. Only 2% of nursery teachers are men and this hasn’t changed for ten years. Roger Olsen of the National Nursery Trust said, “Men are often viewed with anxiety and suspicion(怀疑)in a children’s environment. Or they are expected to do things the way women would do them. But men bring different things into childcare and this has to be recoginsed.” Jonathan agrees. He is a qualified under-7s football coach, and plants to introduce football lessons to the nursery for boys and girls.
What do Jonathan’s friends think of his choice of career?
“Actually, most of them are pretty cool about it now.” he says, “though they do make jokes about nappies. And I’ve found that girls are actually quite impressed – so that’s good!”
1.Why was Jonathan employed by Toddler World Nursery?
A. He was the best among all the applicants.
B. He was the only man who applied for the job.
C. He would be able to teach kids to play football.
D. He would do things the way women would do them.
2.Which of the following can replace the underlined word “childminder” (Para.2)?
A. Instructor.
B. Superior.
C. Baby-sitter.
D. Coach.
3.What did Roger Olsen say about the job of childcare?
A. It has been women-specific.
B. It requires people’s understanding.
C. It takes time to make some changes.
D. It needs men teachers to bring something different.
Four Wild Animal Species Were Endangered
Maybe you can still see them at the zoo. But that doesn’t mean they’re doing alright in the wild.
Tigers
All six tiger species are endangered, with Sumatran tigers and South Chin tigers at a seriously endangered status. The main reasons for their population decline are illegal hunting and destroyed habitats(栖息地), as humans clear forests to gather timber（木材）and build roadways. Only about 3890 tigers presently live in the wild.
Ground squirrels
That’s right, even squirrels are endangered, specifically the San Joaquin ground squirrel. Native to California, USA, these guys have been disappearing since 1979 on account of the construction and human developments going through their habitat. Their total population is unknown , but it could be anywhere between 124000 and 413000.
Giraffes
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature recently put giraffes at a vulnerable status, the level just before endangered. The giraffe population has declined 40 percent in the last 30 years, primarily due to loss of habitat and illegal hunting. Some giraffes are killed just for their tails, which are considered status symbols in Africa.
Asian elephants
The main threat to Asian elephants, one of the most intelligent animals, is their shrinking habitat. As the human population grows, people invade their land to build roads and railway tracks. Elephants in Myanmar are at an especially high risk for being captured and traded or used illegally in the tourist industry. Fewer than 50000 are left on the entire continent.
1.What is the total population of tigers living in the wild?
A. Around 3890.
B. 50000.
C. 124000.
D. 413000.
2.Which of the following is considered one of the most intelligent animals?
A. Tigers.
B. Giraffes.
C. Ground squirrels.
D. Asian elephants.
3.What is the common threat to the four wild animals?
A. Illegal hunting.
B. Disturbed habitat.
C. Developing tourism.
D. Unnecessary construction.
4.Which word can best describe the present situation for protecting wild animals?
A. Satisfactory.
B. Optimistic.
C. Urgent.
D. Stable.
假设你是李华，正在英国伦敦参加夏令营。请给在该市的网友Jack写一封电子邮件，说明你想与他见面，并去参观他的学校。同时告诉他，你准备了中国结作为礼物赠送给他，感谢他在网上解答你在英语学习上的问题。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 参考词汇：中国结：Chinese knot
Dear Jack,
___________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
